285: Nick and Tom – I wish I knew this when starting my photography business

Something different for this episode of the podcast with an in-person conversation with two photographers in the early stages of their careers where I share the things I wish I'd known when starting my business – over 20 years ago. From generating leads, making sales, offering discounts to friends and family plus some gear and equipment talk and more.

Here's how the interview came about…

Nicholas Varady-Szabo or Nick V contacted me after hearing on a podcast episode I live on the Central Coast, not far from Sydney, where he's based and kicking off his wedding (and possibly portrait) photography business.

I'm considering starting a photography business, and want to be smart and do it right from the beginning. Would you be willing to let me buy you a coffee and spare half an hour to point me in the right direction? – Nick V

Following the above message, we scheduled a date to meet up. Nick asked to bring his friend Tom Fewchuk, also with an emerging photography business and the guys agreed to let me record our conversation.

Here’s some more of what we cover in the interview:

A brief background about Nick and Tom and how they started their photography businesses

The importance of setting your expectations with your clients, friends and families when pricing for them

The key things you need to focus on when just starting your photography business

Sales sessions and proving you can deliver

Advice for pricing and discounts when starting out

The best practice when someone offers you money for your photography work

Your next approach when someone asks you to photograph their special event

Does explaining to clients about the back end jobs help a photographer to charge more?

Back up equipment and types of cameras to start with

How important is having your own studio when starting out

The three factors that lead to a successful photography business

The easiest ways to create connections and get referrals from your clients

The best place to look for clients with portraits and headshots

How to deal with digital files

The importance of having a website and why it should be SEO optimized

Why relying only on social media for bookings is not a good idea

What is third-party marketing and how it works when starting out?

Tom Fewchuk Photography

What’s on Offer for Premium Members

If you’re a premium member, you should have received an email with links to your version of this interview – the full length and more revealing version where you hear the absolute best tips and advice from every guest.

If you’re on the fence about becoming a premium member, join with the $1 trial today and get access to the FULL interviews each week, get access to an amazing back catalogue of interviews and ALL future interviews delivered automatically to your phone or tablet.

Plus special member-only interviews.

You'll also receive access to the members-only Secret Facebook Group where you can connect with other Premium Members and interview guests to help, support and motivate you to take ideas you hear in each episode and put them into action. There are also FB live video tutorials, role-play interviews and special live interviews happening in the group.

You will not find more friendly, more motivated, caring and sharing photographers online.

Joining a Mastermind Group (encouraged by Andrew) has been incredibly valuable and fun, I look forward to connecting with my group members every week. Jina Zheng, Premium Member and Melbourne Children photographer.

And that's not all… you get a set of steak knives… I'm kidding!

Seriously though, that's not all. In addition to everything above, you'll get access to and instructions on forming or joining a MasterMind Group with other premium members. These groups are super motivating, make you accountable and build friendships with other pro photographers with similar motives to you – to build a more successful photography business.

Nick V Photography

What is your big takeaway?

Following this interview, I’d love to know if you're taking anything away from what Nick and Tom shared. Is there something you heard that excited or motivated you to the point where you thought, yeah, I'm going to do that! If so, let me know by leaving your thoughts in the comments below, let me know what your takeaways were, what you plan to implement in your business as a result of what you heard in today's episode.

If you have any questions that I missed, a specific question you’d like to ask Nick and Tom or if you just want to say thanks for coming on the show, feel free to add them in the comments area below.

The Beginner Photography Podcast

It was cool to be asked to be interviewed on Raymond Hatfield's Beginner Photography Podcast which went live last week.

In the episode, I answered questions n relation to:

Booking 20 weddings at my first bridal fair

How I used to advertise my photography business

How I dealt with photography burn out

A lesson learnt from my first paid shoot

Some of the hardest aspects of running my photography business

Some of the best perks of being a photographer

If we should focus on one genre of photography or shoot a variety of genres

The survey is the easiest way for me to give you the best guests, questions, podcast and help with your business.

Plus, it'll be fun!

Ok, not really fun but it'll be a break from what you're doing. LOL

Here's one of the best / funniest quotes I've seen in response to asking how you found the podcast (modified slightly to hide the photographer's identity in case they don't want this shared):

I'm based in [insert country] and our weddings are not interesting at all. I found it on my computer and took it with me to the shore of the lake to sunbathe a little. It was 11 AM, listened thru the whole episode, got badly sunburnt, but hooked to the podcast. Purchased the Premium Version shortly afterwards. – PBX Member

Tom Fewchuk Photography

iTunes Reviews and Shout-outs

Each week I check for any new iTunes reviews and it's always a buzz to receive these… for a couple of reasons.

Firstly, it's confirmation that I'm on the right track with the interviews and that they really are helping you improve your photography business. That's awesome!

Secondly, iTunes is the biggest search engine when it comes to podcasts and it's your reviews and ratings that help other photographers find PhotoBizX. More listeners mean more interviews and ultimately a better show.

If you have left a review in the past, thank you!

If you haven't and you'd like to, head to https://photobizx.com/itunes and you can leave some honest feedback and a rating which will help both me and the show and I'll be sure to thank you on the show and add a link to your website or blog if you let me know the URL of your website and your name.

Tom, me and Nick following our chat about photography business over a coffee at Terrigal.

Thank you!

Thanks again for listening and big thanks to Nick and Tom for allowing me to record our chat over a coffee.

If you have any suggestions, comments or questions about this episode, please be sure to leave them below in the comment section of this post, and if you liked the episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post!

That’s it for me this week, hope everything is going well for you in life and business!